Jan Pietersz Wagenmaker (d. 1575)

Jan Pietersz Wagenmaker (John Wielmacker), an Anabaptist martyr, was burned at the stake on 22 July 1575, at Smithfield in London, England. Jan Pietersz, who was a wagon builder, had emigrated, obviously because of persecution and also on account of lack of work, from Flanders, Belgium. Probably he had lived at Ghent, where his first wife was put to death because of her Anabaptism. Jan Pietersz and 21 Flemish Anabaptist immigrants were apprehended when they held a meeting at Easter of 1575 in London, outside the Aldersgate. They were all arrested and after much tribulation Hendrik Terwoort and Jan Pietersz were put to death. In a letter to Queen Elizabeth they stated that they could not believe otherwise than that "they feel in their conscience." They remained steadfast and died loyally. When Jan Pietersz was led to the execution place, he said, "This way went all the pious prophets, and also Christ our Saviour."

Two letters of Hendrik Terwoort and Jan Pietersz are found in van Braght, Martyrs' Mirror, where also detailed information is given about their fate and confession.

These two martyrs are celebrated in a hymn, "Aenhoort met neerstichden (neerstichheden), menschen verstaet wel mijn" (Hear attentively, ye people, understand me well), which is found in the very rare Confessio of Thomas van Imbroich, printed at Ghent in 1579. Some fragments of songs composed by Jan Pietersz are found in the Martyrs' Mirror.

Braght, Thieleman J. van. The Bloody Theatre or Martyrs' Mirror of the Defenseless Christians Who Baptized Only upon Confession of Faith and Who Suffered and Died for the Testimony of Jesus Their Saviour . . . to the Year A.D. 1660. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1951: 1008-1024. Available online at: http://www.homecomers.org/mirror/index.htm.